‘Arc Raiders’ Plagued by Cheaters as Streamers Demand Action
A surge in cheating is threatening to derail the momentum of the popular PvPvE extraction shooter, Arc Raiders, just months after its October 20, 2025, release. Developers at Embark Studios have acknowledged the issue and indicated that patches are in development to address the growing problem.
Arc Raiders quickly ascended to become a phenomenon in the online gaming world, consistently ranking among the top five most-played games on Steam – a remarkable feat given the enduring popularity of titles like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG. However, the game’s recent success has been overshadowed by a significant increase in cheating since the start of the new year.
The frustration reached a boiling point as prominent streamers voiced their concerns. One well-known streamer, broadcasting on January 6, 2026, bluntly questioned the game’s playability, stating, “What’s the point of fucking playing?” after encountering cheaters.
Ninja echoed these sentiments on January 7, 2026, directly appealing to Embark Studios for a response.
Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, of 100 Thieves, provided a more detailed critique, describing his recent experience as “hell” and suggesting Embark Studios adopt a more aggressive stance against cheaters, similar to Epic Games’ approach with Fortnite. He advocated for “legitimate legal action against providers and individuals who are actively supplying and using cheating software.”
While acknowledging the potential financial and logistical challenges for a smaller studio, Nadeshot conceded that he currently has no alternative solutions.
The timing of the cheating outbreak coincides with a scheduled vacation for the Arc Raiders development team. A community manager, known as CM Birdie, confirmed on the game’s Discord server that patches are planned upon the team’s return. “The team was on vacation,” Birdie stated. “The patches will come soon enough, you will see! The team has been looking into the issues you keep talking about, for example, trigger nades, stitcher, kettle…” It remains unclear whether these upcoming patches will specifically target cheating or focus on balancing overpowered equipment in player-versus-player combat.
Interestingly, Embark Studios has implemented a matchmaking system that subtly segregates players based on their preferred playstyle. Those who actively engage in PvP encounters are more likely to be matched with similar players, while those who avoid conflict are grouped with others who share that preference. This system, as recently confirmed by the studio, effectively reduces the likelihood of peaceful players encountering cheaters, who are primarily focused on competitive engagements.
. While the situation remains fluid, the response from both players and developers suggests a commitment to addressing the cheating issue and preserving the integrity of Arc Raiders.
